Motor wrecking truck



Aug. 31 1926.

' J. J. PALOTCE MOTOR WRECKING TRUCK 1925; 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9,

Aug. 31 1926 1,598,220

- J. J. PALOTCE mo'rok WRECKING TRUCK I Filed June 9, 1925 I 3Sheets-Sheet 2 ITE-ff I Aug. 31 1926. 1,598,220

- Y J. J; PALOTCE MOTOR WRECKING TRUCK Filed June 9. 1925 5 Sheets-Shet 5 gwuento'o Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED. STATES JOHN J. PALOTCE, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

Moron wnnoxme TRUCK.

Application filed June 9, 1925. Serial No. 35,995.

This invention is a novel improvement in motor wrecking trucks, such as shown in my application Serial No. 732,952, and the principal object thereof is to provide ,a simple, novel, and efficient wrecking truck which will be capable of readily raising a damaged automobile, or other load, into the body of the truck, and retaining the same therein, and will also be capable of readily removing the same from the truck body and replacing same upon the ground after the truck has been run into a repair shop.

It has heretofore been the practice to mount a single derrick or hoist pivoted to the rear end of a wrecking truck, which hoist is used to raise the front or rear end of a damaged motor vehicle off the ground, the truck then pulling the damaged vehicle into a repair shop. By so pulling the damaged vehicle additional injury thereto is caused by reason of the unusual stresses in the vehicle body.- By using my novel wrecking truck, however, the damaged vehicle is hoisted into the body of the truck, and thus transported, without injury, to the repair shop. I

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enable others to adopt and use the same and will summarize in the claims the nove features of construction, and the novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my motor wrecking truck showing the'booms in raised position, and in dotted lines a damaged motor vehicle in the body thereof.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the booms in folded position along the sides of the truck body.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the truck shown in Fig. 1.' t

Figure 4 is an end elevation thereofshowingl i'n-dotted lines the arrangement of braces for'the booms when a side-pull is desired.

- Figure?) is a transverse section through the truck showing the arrangement of the ,drum shaft.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views.

As shown, my novel motor wrecking truck preferably comprises a motorvehicle'chassis C f any desired ty e,upon'wh1ch is mounted an open body 7 said body prefm ately erably being provided with low side members B.

The rear transverse member of the chassis 0 preferably comprises a channel iron 1, having its ends 1 flush with the top of the chassis G and extending beyond the side members 13. The middle portion 1 of,

member 1 is preferably straight but disposed below the plane of ends 1, whereby the channel member 1 is formed approxi- V-shaped. Any other structural shape beam however may be used in place of the channel iron.

Upon the middle portion 1-0f channel 1 are mounted, in any desired manner, longitudinal cantilever members 2, preferably H- beams or double channel irons placed back to back, or they may be any other desired structural shape, said members 2 being disposed horizontally, and extending beyond the. end of the chassis C. The inner ends 2 of the members 2 are preferably bent slightly upwardly and secured to, the chassis C, and are preferably further anchored in position by means of bolts 2 as shown in Figure 1.

Extending longitudinally of the body B, are tracks 3, preferably channel irons, said tracks 3 being preferably disposed directly over the cantilever members 2, and adapted to' guide a carriage 7 for supporting the front axle of the damaged vehicle L, or any other load. The outer ends 3 of tracks 3, beyond the body B slope downwardly as at 3 to meet the ends of the cantilever members 2, members 2 and tracks 3 being secured together preferably by means of a transverse member 4 secufely bolted or riveted to the ends of members 2 and .3 to hold the outer ends thereof in correct alignment so that the carriage 7 may travel on tracks 3 from the body B down the inclined portions 3 to the outer ends of member 2.

Carriage 7 preferably comprises parallel end frames 7, preferably substantially triangular in shape, provided with axles '7 at the lower corners thereof, bearing wheels 7 adapted to run in tracks 3. The end frames 7 may be connected together by means of frame members 7 securely riveted to the end frames 7*, anda saddle 7 is pivoted, as at 7 upon the top of the carriage 7 for the reception of the front axleof a damaged vehicle, the saddle 7 may be adapted to be swungon its pivot 79 into any position in order to receive the axle which may be bent.

The height of carriage 7 should be sufiicient to hold the wheels of the vehicle L off the floor of body B.

Upon the top of the member 4 at the outer end of track 3 is pivoted asaddle member 8, preferably a channel iron, adapted to receive the rear axleof the damaged vehicle L when same is carried by the truck, as shown in Figure 1.

- At the rear end of the body B, 'upon each outer end 1* of member 1, is pivoted a boom 5, preferably an I=beam, of suitable dimensions but less in length than the length of the body. The lower end of each boom 5 is pivoted upon a horizontally disposed bolt 5 (Figs'iZ and 8) passing through upstanding lugs or ears 5", 5, of a plate 5, which plate is pivoted, upon the ends 1 of member 1 byjmeans of a vertically disposed bolt 5- whereby the booms 5 may be swung into any desired position. Plate 5 is rovide'd with MII'GXtGDSlOIl 5 having a per oration at its outer end for the reception'of 'a locking bolt 5 which normally locks plate 5 in such position that boom 5 will swing in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of the truck. However, by removing bolt 5 plate 5 'may be pivoted on bolt 5 to swing the boom in any angular direction with respect to the axis of the truck.

The upper ends of each boom 5 are -preferably bent rearwardly as;5,'and a member 6 (preferably Y-sha ed) is horizontally pivoted thereto as at ,6 member 6 being connected with the upper end of a brace 6 ex- X tending downwardly to the front outer corners of the body B.

p 5 at any. desired elevation. The front end Each braqe 6 is preferably made in two halves of approximately the same length, the

adjacent ends of each half having a series of perforations therein adapted to receive pins or bolts 6 whereby the effective length of. the brace-6 may be adjusted to hold the, boom of each brace 6 is pivoted to a strap 6 secure"- ly fastened to the chassis C, the rear end of strap 6 being bent outwardly as shown and supported by a'hanger 6" fastened to the frontouter end of the truck body. When boom 5 is not in use, nut 6 may be removed,

disconnecting the halves of brace 6, and the boom 5 swung forwardly into horizontal T position in the plane of the truck body as showir in Fig. 2, the halves of brace 6 likewise assuming the same position, whereby boom 5 and its brace 6 will be folded out of alga way along the outer side of the truck y. When it is desired to effect a side-pull, or to raise a load at the side of the truck, boom 5 maybe swung as, shown in dotted Iinesu'n' .ends of said booms.

leys 5 suitably journaled at the lower ends of booms 5; also downwardly around pulleys 1 journaled in U-shaped plates 1 mounted below the outer ends 1 of frame member 1. Cables 13 thence pass to pulleys 1 pivoted to the under side of middle portion 1 of frame member 1, and from thence to and around a drum 1() on a shaft disposed transversely of said body. Upon the shaft 10 is mounted a drum 10, in axial alignment with the pulleys 1, upon which the cables 13 wind and unwind.

Shaft 10 is driven by suitable gearing by a shaft 11 Fig. 1 connected through a universal joint 11 to a counter shaft 11*, having a clutch 11 interposed therein controlled by means of a clutch lever 11". Counter shaft 11 is driven through suita- .b1e gearing orsprockets by the main drive shaft S of the truck, thereby imparting rotation'to 'the shaft 10 when the lever .11 is thrown to engage the members of the clutch 11.

Secured to the outer end of track 3 is a block 15, around which passes a cable '16 having one end securedto carriage 7, as shown in Fig. 1, the other end of cable 16 being wrapped around a shaft 17 suitably journaled in bearings 17 mounted upon'the.

sides B of the body, said shaft 17 having a crank 17 on one end thereof whereby the shaft may be rotated to wind up the cable 16 thereon, and hence draw the carriage 7 towards the rear end of the track 3 when it is desired to remove the load from the truck.-

In operation, when it is desired to'hoist a damaged vehicle into the truck body, the wrecking truck isfirst aligned with the damaged vehicle, and the carriage 7 run out to the end of the track 3 where it will be retained by reason of the inclination of the portions? of the track. Booms 5 are then raised to position shown in Fi 1, and blocks 12 lowered. Slings R may then be passed "under the front axle of the damaged vehi- 1,asa,aao

blocks are a ain simultaneously raised lift- 1 claims.

9 plates having spaced upstanding lugs thereing and ling the vehicle towards the truck, until its'rear axle rests in the saddle 8 as shown in Figure 1. As the vehicle is then raised into the truck carriage 7 supporting the front end of the vehicle travels in tracks 3 towards the inner end of the body B. Slings R are referably retained under the rear axles oi the vehicle after seating same in place upon the truck, as a safeguard in case the rear axle of the vehicle" shouldslip out of the saddle 8, and also to hold-the vehicle in u right position in the truck. saddles. The damaged vehicle thus loaded on the truck may be bodily carried without inju to a garage or repairfsho When it is esired to remove the vehic e from the truck the above operation is reversed, the carriage 7 being drawn to the rear of the truck by the rotation of'shaft 17 by means ofcrank 17", thereby pullingthe' vehicle-back out of the truck.

I do not limit my invention to the exact formshown in the drawing for obviously changes in the details of construction may be made therein within the scope of the I claim:

1. In combination a vehicle; a late horiz'on'tally swingably mounted on t e vehicle; said plate having spaced upstanding lugs thereon; .a boom vertically. swingably mounted between the lugson said plate; means for adjusting the elevation of the boom; a lateral extension on said plate; and means on the vehicle enga ing'the extension for locking the plate in a justed position.

i 2. In combination, a vehicle chassis; a body thereon; said chassis extending laterally beyond 'thesides ,of the body; plates horizontally swingably mounted on the chassis adjacent the sides of the body; said on; booms vert cally swingably mounted at their lower ends between the lugs on the plates; means for adjusting the elevations of the booms; lateral extensions on said lates; and means engaging the extensions or looking the plates to the body in adjuste'd positions. p

3.111 combination, a vehicle chassis; a bod thereon; a niember. on the chassis exten g be 0nd the sides of the body plates 'horizonta y swingabl mounted on the member at opposite si es of the body; said plates having spaced upstanding lugs thereon; booms swingably mounted at their lower ends between the lugson said plates; means for adjustin the elevations of the booms; said plates aving lateral extensions provided with erforations; registering perforations in the vehicle body, and bolts engaging 'said perforations for locking. the plates in adjusted positions.

4; In combination, a motor vehicle chas- 7 end member on the chassis extending beyond the sides of said body; plates horizon- 5. In combination, a motor vehicle chassis; an open body thereon; a transverse rear end member on the chassis; extending beyond the sides of said body; plates horizon tally swingably mounted on the transverse member at opposite sides of the body; said plates having spacedupstanding lugs thereon; booms vert1cally swingably mounted at their lower ends between the lugs on said plates links su orting the upper ends of the b eoms; said plates being rovided with'lateral extensions havin per oration! therein; means engaging sai perforations .for locking the plates in adjusted positions; and said links each comprising a plurality of detachably connected sections, whereby when the sections are disconnected said sis; an open body'thereon; a transverse rear tally swingably mounted on the outer ends and means enbooms and links may be swung down into I horizontal position along the sides of the vehicle body. t

- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature. j

JOHN J. PALOTOE. 

